Festival start: 08 October 2025
Festival end: 11 October 2025
Santiago Horror is a festival that promotes fantastic cinema in Latin America, a stage where fantasy, science fiction, and horror take center stage and transcend borders.
More than just a festival, we are a vibrant platform that promotes the creation, dissemination, and exhibition of genre films, connecting talent with a global audience.
Our mission is to strengthen the production and distribution of fantastic cinema in Chile and the region, taking these bold stories to new horizons.
In each edition, we challenge convention, celebrate imagination, and consolidate Santiago Horror as an essential reference for the industry and film lovers worldwide.
Organized by: Fantastic Chile Foundation in collaboration with the Department of Extension and Heritage Archives of the University of Santiago de Chile
* IMPORTANT:
Hybrid festival format (in-person and online)
• The prestigious North American media outlet DREAD CENTRAL named us in its 2022 list of "The Best Horror Festivals in the World," as one of the best South American and Chilean festivals, alongside major global and Latin American festivals.
Link: http://surl.li/fuwug
AWARDS & SPECIAL MENTIONS
Feature Films:
• Best Feature Film
• Special Mention – Feature Film
• Best Ibero-American Feature Film
• Best Sound Design – Feature Film
• Best Cinematography – Feature Film
• Best Performance – Feature Film
• Best Screenplay – Feature Film
• Best Special Effects – Feature Film
Short Films:
• Best National Short Film
• Special Mention – National Short Film
• Best International Short Film
• Special Mention – International Short Film
Animation:
• Best Animated Short Film
• Special Mention – Animated Short Film
Music Videos:
• Best National Music Video
• Special Mention – National Music Video
• Best International Music Video
• Special Mention – International Music Video
University Short Films:
• Best National “New Blood” Short Film
• Special Mention – National “New Blood” Short Film
• Best International “New Blood” Short Film
• Special Mention – International “New Blood” Short Film
The jury reserves the right to withhold any award if the submitted works do not meet the minimum required standards of quality.
1. GENERAL RULES
1.1 – SHFF 2025, the International Fantastic Film Festival, organized by the Chile Fantástico Foundation, will take place between October 8 and 11, 2025.
1.2 – Registration is open for the following categories: National and International Competitions
• Feature Films
• Short Films
• Animation
• Music Videos
• Student Short Films
• Heritage and Fiction Documentary Showcase
1.3 - Exhibition Formats and subtitles: The accepted exhibition formats for works are:
subtitles: These must be embedded in the work in Spanish, taking into account the original language, rendered and pasted onto the copy, and must be legible in size and duration. subtitles can also be attached in .SRT format with a maximum of 45 characters per line, synchronized with the submitted film, with a total of 2 lines per dialogue. Any other format not specified in this document may be grounds for disqualification.
1.4 – SHFF will give preference to premieres that have not been screened in Chile at the time of the festival. This condition applies to both national and international productions. (Excludes the Music Video competition.)
1.5 – The copyright holder of the work or the person submitting it must complete the application through the FESTHOME platform www.festhome.com.
2.- SELECTED FILMS
2.1 - Selected works must meet the following requirements:
• Feature Films / Short Films: Release date from January 1, 2024
• Music Videos: Release date from January 1, 2023
• Animated Short Films: Release date from January 1, 2023
• Student Short Films: Release date from January 1, 2024
2.2 - Works previously or currently published on social media, YouTube, or any digital, public, or commercial media will not be accepted.
2.3 - The use of materials subject to intellectual property rights without the owner's authorization is prohibited. The organization assumes no liability arising from unauthorized use of copyrighted materials.
2.4 - Festhome Upload Requirements: The following specifications are mandatory at the time of application:
• Contacts (email/phone)
• Film synopsis (700 characters max.)
• Director's filmography, including at least the year, city, and country of birth
• High-resolution portrait photography of the director
• Minimum of three high-resolution photos of the film
• Technical and artistic credits, including at least: director, executive producers, screenwriter, director of photography, art director, editor or film editor, musician, and cast
• Trailer
• Official poster of the film
3.- SUBMISSION OF DIGITAL FILES FOR SCREENING
3.1 - Details and notifications regarding the submission of digital files for the 2025 exhibition will be provided once the work is selected.
3.2 - The file must be submitted within 5 calendar days of the notification being sent through the registration platform.
3.3 - The selected film(s) must provide a screener in case the jury needs access to the work. It is requested that it be restricted or have a specific password.
4.- PRESS AND PUBLICITY
4.1 - Once the official selection has been determined, SHFF may use excerpts from the films—up to a maximum of 3 minutes (only for feature films) and a maximum of 1 minute for short films—and additional photographs beyond those required in the application for promotional purposes.
4.2 - The SHFF website and social media may incorporate graphic material, as well as any other promotional resources the festival deems appropriate. If the excerpts are not provided by the owner of the work, the festival may extract one or more segments from the work for promotional purposes before, during, and after the festival.
5. SCREENING
The production company will determine the order and date of the screening of the works. The schedule and days of the screening will also be announced in SHFF media and platforms.
6. ACCEPTANCE OF THE REGULATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE RULES
The owner or legal representative of the work entered and selected for the 8th edition of SHFF acknowledges acceptance of these regulations. The festival reserves the right to make any decisions it deems necessary for situations not covered by these rules.
7. CODE OF CONDUCT
To ensure a safe and inclusive space for all participants, SHFF adopts a zero-tolerance policy against any type of harassment, discrimination, or inappropriate behavior during the event. This applies to participants, the jury, and the audience. Any violation of this code may result in expulsion from the festival and disqualification of the work.
If you have any questions, please contact the organization at info@santiagohorror.com.
International Feature Films Contest
Feature Films >60' 190'< (2024+)
Standard Fee27$ -8% 24.84$ PRO 83% 4.59$
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Submissions deadline
07 Sep 25
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22.41$
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Feature Films:
The competition is open to the screening of feature films in the fantasy and horror genres, including all their subgenres and variations (thriller, documentary, dark comedy, science fiction, etc.) in the formats established in the rules.
Feature films participating in this category must not have been previously screened in Chile, under any circumstances or by any means (this is not an exclusion from the application process, if the case warrants it).
National Feature Films
Short and Feature Films 190'< (2024+)
No Fee
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Submissions deadline
07 Sep 25
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Largometrajes:
La competencia está orientada a la exhibición de películas de largometraje, en los géneros de fantástico, terror, incluyendo todos sus subgéneros y variantes (thrillers, documentales, humor negro, ciencia ficción, etc.) en los formatos establecidos en las bases.
Los largometrajes que participen en esta categoría no podrán haber sido exhibidas con anterioridad en Chile, bajo ningún concepto y por ningún medio (no excluyente en la postulación, si el caso lo amerita).
International Short Film Competition
Short Films >1' 25'< (2024+)
Standard Fee15$ -8% 13.8$ PRO 83% 2.55$
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Submissions deadline
07 Sep 25
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12.45$
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Short films:
The submitted works may not exceed 25 minutes, as a maximum duration.
The selected works must be delivered in a standard format compatible with most of the players on the market or sent in high-quality digital format.
This category will be subdivided for registration, programming and awarding purposes into:
• International Short Film Competition
National Short Films
Short Films >1' 25'< (2024+)
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Submissions deadline
07 Sep 25
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Cortometrajes:
Los trabajos presentados no podrán superar los 25 minutos, como duración máxima.
Los trabajos seleccionados se deberán entregar en un formato estándar compatible con la mayoría de los reproductores existentes en el mercado o enviar en formato digital de alta calidad.
International Music Video Competition
Short Films >1' 25'< (2021+)
Standard Fee10$ -8% 9.2$ PRO 83% 1.7$
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Submissions deadline
07 Sep 25
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8.3$
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The competition is aimed at audiovisual producers, musical groups, video clip producers, independent artists and record companies.
The duration of the video clip may not exceed 25minutes.
It is not permitted to use materials/content subject to intellectual property rights, of which the person who sent them or their representative is not the exclusive owner. The organization does not assume responsibilities arising from unauthorized use of copyrighted materials.
Note: The prize will be awarded to the director or owner of the Video clip. The band can be a representative of the director or owner of the work.
The pre-selected video clips can be viewed at:
• Web page
• Festival RSS
• SHFF in all its communications of the pre-selected, finalist and winning video clips
National VideoClips
Short Films >1' 25'< (2023+)
No Fee
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Submissions deadline
07 Sep 25
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Videoclips:
La competencia es dirigida a realizadores audiovisuales, conjuntos musicales, productoras de videoclips, artistas independientes y compañías discográficas.
La duración del video clip no podrá exceder los 10 minutos.
No está permitido utilizar materiales/contenidos sometidos a derechos de propiedad intelectual, del que no sean propietarios exclusivos quien los envié o su representante. La organización no asume las responsabilidades que se deriven de un uso no autorizado de materiales sometidos a copyright.
Nota: El premio será otorgado al director o dueño del Videoclip. La banda puede ser representante del director o dueño de la obra.
Los videoclips pre-seleccionados se podrán visionar en:
• Pagina WEB
• RSS del festival
• SHFF en todas sus comunicaciones de los videoclips pre-seleccionados, finalistas y ganadores
International Animation Short Films
Short Films >1' 30'< (2023+)
Standard Fee10$ -8% 9.2$ PRO 83% 1.7$
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Submissions deadline
07 Sep 25
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8.3$
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Animated Short Films
Submitted works may not exceed 30 minutes in length.
Works must be submitted in a standard format compatible with most media players on the market or in high-quality digital format.
• There will be only one category for this segment.
• Submitted works may be created using any animation method. Works requiring stereoscopic viewing will not be accepted
Cortometrajes de Animación (NACIONAL)
Short Films >1' 30'< (2023+)
No Fee
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Submissions deadline
07 Sep 25
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Cortometrajes:
Los trabajos presentados no podrán superar los 25 minutos, como duración máxima.
Los trabajos seleccionados se deberán entregar en un formato estándar compatible con la mayoría de los reproductores existentes en el mercado o enviar en formato digital de alta calidad.
University Short Film Competition "New Blood"
Short Films >1' 25'< (2024+)
Standard Fee5$ -8% 4.6$ PRO 83% 0.85$
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Submissions deadline
07 Sep 25
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4.15$
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University Short Film Competition
• The works must have a duration of at least 1 minute and a maximum of 25 minutes.
• The works must conform to the themes established by the festival
• The works must be in Spanish, if another language is incorporated, it must include subtitles embedded in the video.
The works in competition will be in a special section within the virtual platform of our streaming partner, in addition to an in-person exhibition within the festival.
The festival will request student accreditation, if it deems it appropriate.
Competencia Universitaria de Cortometrajes Nacional (NUEVA SANGRE)
Short Films >1' 20'< (2024+)
No Fee
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Submissions deadline
07 Sep 25
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University Short Film Competition – "New Blood"
• Submissions must have a minimum duration of 1 minute and a maximum of 20 minutes.
• All works must align with the themes established by the festival.
• Films must be in Spanish. If another language is used, embedded subtitles in Spanish must be included in the video.
The competing works will be featured in a special section on the virtual platform of our official streaming partner, in addition to being showcased in an in-person screening during the festival.
The festival reserves the right to request proof of student enrollment if deemed necessary.
Festhome holds accountable fees festivals by holding the payment of the fees of most newer festivals until they have viewed the submissions, held their festivals and other methods.